Nate Poss joined the UTEP staff in March 1997 as director of football operations. Now the assistant athletic director for football operations, Poss’ duties are wide-range, most importantly helping head coach Sean Kugler in the day-to-day operations of Miner football.

Poss is responsible for organizing and implementing team travel, arranges and coordinates UTEP’s preseason camp both in El Paso and Ruidoso, N.M., and is responsible for the Miner football players’ summer job placement around El Paso.

He also helps arrange community service appearances for Miner players and coaches, particularly with local school, the Child Crisis Center and the Boys and Girls Club. The football team has annually ranked among UTEP’s top sports programs in community service hours.

A West Texas native, Poss helps the coaching staff in other areas, including overseeing the training table, compliance and recruiting weekends and assisting with academics. He works hand-in-hand with on-campus entities to coordinate players’ scholarship checks and campus finances. He is also in charge of all logistics for the Miners Across Texas summer camps.

Poss graduated from Big Spring High School in Big Spring, Texas, where he was named to the school’s “Team of the Century” for football. His performance as a wide receiver and defensive back gained him a scholarship to Rice. At Rice, Poss played defensive back for coordinator Charlie Bailey, former head coach of the Miners. Poss earned four letters (1973-76) and was in the starting lineup two years (1975-76) for the Owls.

Upon receiving his B.A. in commerce and religion from Rice in 1978, Poss spent three years as sports editor of the Big Spring Herald and one year as editor of Big Time Sports magazine that served the Permian Basin. From 1984-88 Poss lived in Miami, Fla., where he was a marketing representative for the Fina Corp. In 1988 Poss returned to school at Sul Ross State University and worked on his master’s degree in education, which he received in 1989. During his stay at Sul Ross, Poss served as running backs and defensive backs coach, as well as assistant basketball coach.

Poss also coached in the Texas prep ranks at Kermit High School (1991), Greenwood High in Midland (1992-93) and Coronado High in El Paso (1994-96). He was president of the El Paso Coaches’ Association in 1996-97. He currently serves on the National Committee for Directors of Football Operations and is the Conference USA representative to the committee.

Nate’s father, Delnor Poss, served as director of athletics at Midland Junior College for 17 years. In 1995 the elder Poss was honored as NJCAA Athletic Director of the Year. He has coached four national championship golf teams at Midland College. Delnor Poss was also inducted into the College Golf Hall of Fame in the summer of 2009.